Plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle

ABSTRACT

A plow for a motor-driven vehicle which is inclined relative to the vehicle and pivotally secured thereto, the plow and the attaching means being arranged so that when the plow is in a lowered or operating position it is automatically latched in position and upon raising the plow through a predetermined angle the latch will be automatically disengaged and the plow will rotate automatically through an angle greater than 90* so that when it is lowered it will assume the reverse position and latch in that position. The plow essentially forms a section of a cone with the smaller end leading the larger end and the smaller end of the plow is provided with a plate overlying the end and extending forwardly thereof.

United States Patent Inventor Herbert B. Clifford Michigan City, 1nd.

Appl. No. 824,894

Filed May 15, 1969 Patented Sept. 14, 1971 Assignee Poloron Products of Indiana, Inc.

New Rochelle, N.Y.

PLOW AND MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A Primary Examiner- Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino Attorney-Eugene E. Geoffrey, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A plow for a motor-driven vehicle which is inclined relative to the vehicle and pivotally secured thereto, the plow and the attaching means being arranged so that when the plow is in a lowered or operating position it is automatically latched in position and upon raising the plow through a predetermined angle the latch will be automatically disengaged and the plow will rotate automatically through an angle greater than 90 so that when it is lowered it will assume the reverse position and latch in that position. The plow essentially forms a section of a cone with the smaller end leading the larger end and the smaller end of the plow is provided with a plate overlying the end and extending forwardly thereof.

PATENTEU SEP 1 4 Ian 3504-517 sum 1 0F 5 PATENTED SEP] 4 new SHEEI 2 OF 5 INVENTOR #592952 a m 3 x H 1 PLOW AND MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A MOTOR- DRIVEN VEHICLE This invention relates to a novel and improved plow and means for securing the plow to a motor-driven vehicle and more specifically to a plow having an improved configuration and disposed at an angle relative to the front of the vehicle and to improved attaching means arranged so that when the plow is moved to a raised position it will automatically rotate through an angle substantially greater than 90 and when lowered will assume a reversed position relative to the front of the vehicle.

Known plows carried by motor-driven vehicles generally consist of sections of a cylinder and are supported so that they can be raised or lowered and also moved through a horizontal angle to facilitates the snow or othermaterial being plowed to either one side or the other depending on the angular position of the plow. In the case of large plows, relatively complicated and expensive devices are required for angularly positioning the plow relative to the vehicle. In the case of small plows, essentially intended for home use, positioning of the plow relative to the front of the tractor or other motor vehicle had to be accomplished by hand. This invention overcomes the difficulties heretofore encountered particularly with small plows and provides a novel and improved plow configuration particularly useful for snow removal which facilites displacement of the snow with minimum power and which is secured to the tractor in a novel and improved manner so that it may be reversed merely by raising the plow to a predetermined position which automatically effects rotation thereof and upon lowering will assume a reversed position.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved plow of arcuate configuration with the radius of curvature of the plow increasing from one end to the other and wherein the larger end of the plow trails the smaller end when secured in position on the vehicle.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved plow for motor vehicles which comprises a section of a cone and wherein the smaller end portion is provided with a blade closing the end portion and extending forwardly thereof, said blade being positioned substantially parallel to a vertical longitudinal plane through the vehicle.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel and improved means for securing a plow to a vehicle so that the plow is normally locked in the operating position and upon raising the plow the lock is automatically disengaged and spring means will move the plow through an angle substantially greater than 90 so that upon lowering the plow it will assume a reversed position and will automatically lock in such reversed position.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved plow and mode of attachment of the plow to a motor vehicle which facilitates reversal of the plow by merely moving it to a raised position and then lowering it to the operating position.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application. In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a novel and improved plow and mode of attachment to a motor vehicle in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the plow and attaching means as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front view of the plow in the position as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the plow in the reversed position;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the plow and attaching in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along the line 66 thereof;

means shown line 1I-l1 thereof and with the plow in a substantially vertical position during the course of rotation; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary rear view of the plow and latching means similar to FIG. 10 but in the reversed position.

Referring now to the drawings, the plow is generally denoted by the numeral 10 and is secured by attaching means 11 to a motor driven vehicle 12. The plow 10 is formed of a blade 13 which comprises a section of a cone having a small arcuate end 13a and a large arcuate end 13b. The upper and lower edges of the blade 13 may be provided with stiffening members 14 of somewhat heavier gage material than the plow blade 13. The end 13a of the plow blade 13 is closed by a plate 15 which plate is substantially parallel to a vertical longitudinal plane through the motor vehicle 12. This will be observed more clearly in FIG. 5.

The plow assembly 10 when secured to the motor vehicle 12 is angularly disposed relative thereto as viewed in FIG. 5 with the smaller end 13a and plate 15 leading the larger end 13b. With this arrangement and when utilized for movement of snow, the snow will be displaced toward the larger end of the plow l0 and the configuration of the plow requires less power for effecting snow displacement.

The plow 10 further includes a pair of shoes 16 adjustably secured to the trailing edge of the plate 15 and similarly a pair of shoes 17 are adjustably secured to points adjoining the opposite edges of the blade end 13b. The shoes 16 and 17 permit adjustment of the height of the plow from the ground surface and with one set of shoes riding on the ground when the plow is in one position and with the other set of shoes riding on the ground with the plow in the reversed position.

The attaching means 11 for securing the plow to the tractor is arranged to provide for automatic reversal of the plow from the position shown for instance in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4, and vice versa merely by raising the plow through an angle sufficient to effect disengagement of latching means which function to hold the plow in one or the other of the fixed operating positions. More specifically, the attaching means 11 includes a bracket generally denoted by the numeral 18 having a central portion 19 which is substantially parallel to the plane of the front of vehicle 12. The legs 20 and 21 of the bracket 18 are of different lengths and have outwardly formed flanges 20 and 21' which are welded or otherwise secured to the blade 13 of the plow 10. Thus the bracket 18 determines the angle of the plow 10 relative to the tractor 12.

The bracket 18 is secured to a sleeve 22 which is rotatably carried by a longitudinal member 23 having a semicircular groove 24 formed therein. The sleeve 22 is held in position on the member 23 by a cap 25 which fits about the upper side of the sleeve 22 and is secured to the longitudinal member by bolts 26 or other suitable fastening means. The rear end of the sleeve 22 carries an annular member 27 fixedly secured thereto for preventing forward displacement of the sleeve when the cap 25 is bolted in position on the member 23. The member 23 is also provided with a cutout 28 as viewed more clearly in FIG. 7 to accommodate the annular member 27. With the arrangement thus far described and assuming that the longitudinal support member 23 is in a raised position as shown for instance in FIG. 9, the plow can be readily rotated relative to the member 23.

The arm 29 is held in one or the other positions as illustrated in FIG. 3 by a pair of latches 30 and 31 with the latch 30 being shown more clearly in FIG. 8. The latches 30 and 31 are carried by a shaft 32 which extends through the depending skirts 33 and 34 of the member 23. The bottom end of the latch is provided with an angularly disposed bracket 35 having one leg 36 welded to the latch 30 and a second leg 37 extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the latch 30. A spring 38 is connected between the leg 37 and the skirt 33 to cause both latches to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7, 8, and 10. The top edges of each of the latches 30 and 31 and inclined to provide camming surfaces to permit the arm 29 to engage the latches 30 or 31 as the case may be to hold the plow in a selected operating position when it is lowered with reference to the vehicle 12.

The plow is secured to the vehicle 12 by a U-shaped bracket 39 having a horizontal portion 40 secured to the inner end of the longitudinal member 23. The legs 41 and 42 of the bracket member 39 are secured to the legs of a U-shaped member 43 which is fixedly secured to the front end of the vehicle 12. Attachment of the bracket member 39 to the U-shaped member 43 is effected by a rod 44 which extends through cooperating openings in the bracket 39 and the U-shaped member 43. The U-shaped member 43 also has a transverse rod 45 welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the downwardly extending legs thereof. The leg 41 of the bracket 39 has a tubular member 45 secured thereto and an operating handle 46 engages the tubular member 45 and permits the operator of the vehicle to manually raise and lower the plow 10 while seated in the drivers seat.

Automatic rotation of the plow by the driver is effected by a rod 47 and a spring 51. The rod 47 has a hook 48 on one end thereof engaging the rod 45 and threaded end portion 49 which extends through a cooperating opening in the leg 37 of bracket 35 and is held in position by a nut 50. The spring 51 is coupled at one end to the outer end 29 of the arm 29 and at the other end to a pin 52 carried by a vertically disposed bracket 53 which is secured to the cap 25. The length of the rod 47 is adjusted by the nut so that when the plow is in a lowered position arm 29 will engage one or the other of the latches. Inasmuch as the plow when moved to a raised position pivots about the rod 44 and since the hook 48 engages the rod 45 which is displaced downwardly and outwardly from the rod 44, raising of the plow to the position shown for instance in FIG. 9 causes clockwise motion of the latches 30 and 31 as viewed in FIG. 9 to disengage the arm 29. In the raised position disengagement of the arm 29 from the latches 30 or 31 occurs at an angle which will permit the plow to clear the ground surface when it is rotated about the axis of sleeve 22 as shown for instance in FIG. 11. At the moment of disengage ment of the arm 29 the spring 51 will initiate rotation of the plow and impart sufficient momentum to cause it to move beyond the vertical position shown in solid lines in FIG. 11 so that when the plow is lowered by the operating handle 46, it will be forced into the reversed operating position. Thus, and with specific reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, if the plow is in the position shown in FIG. 3 and is raised by the operating handle 46, the latch 30 will disengage the arm 29 and the spring 51 will cause the plow to rotate in a clockwise direction with momentum of the plow carrying it substantially beyond the vertical position. At this point, the plow is lowered whereupon it assumes the position shown in FIG. 4 with the arm 29 being engaged by the latch 31. In this way the operator while remaining in the operating position on the vehicle 12 can reverse the plow merely by raising it to an elevated position which automatically releases the latches and at the same time is at a sufficient angle to allow the plow to clear the surface of the ground. Furthermore, it will be observed that the plow can be raised to a traveling position above the surface of the ground without disengagement of the latches. If desired, any suitable means may be employed to hold the plow in the slightly raised or so-called traveling position in which one or the other of the latches maintains engagement with the arm 29. For this purpose a suitable transverse member may be positioned between the legs 41 and 42 of the bracket 49 and rotatable means could be secured to such transverse member and bear against the front of the vehicle 12 to hold the plow in a slightly raised position. In the alternative a suitable means such as a latch may be connected between the vehicle 12 and the operating handle 46 which would accomplish the same purpose. 1

What is claimed is:

l. A plow and means for attachment to a motor driven vehicle comprising an elongated blade having opposing edges extending lengthwise thereof, said plow blade being inclined in a horizontal plane relative to the front of said vehicle so that one end thereof is in advance of the other end, and means for securing said blade to said vehicle, said means comprising a member pivoted to said vehicle for angular movement about a horizontal axis transversely positioned relative to sad vehicle, pivotal means securing said blade to said member for rotation about an axis normal to said horizontal axis, spring-biased means carried by said member releasably securing said blade in a first operating position with one of said edges of the blade substantially parallel to and adjoining the ground surface and in a second operating position with the other of said edges adjoining the ground surface, means engaging said releasable securing means and operable upon raising said blade and pivoted member through a predetermined angle to release said securing means and spring means between said blade and said member to effect rotation of said blade when said releasable securing means is released so that the ends of said blade pass through a vertical longitudinal plane normal to said horizontal axis whereby lowering of said blade to contact the ground will move said blade into a reversed operating position and maintain the same in said reversed position.

2. A plow and means for attachment to a motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal means securing said blade to said member includes cylindrical means fixedly attached at one end to said blade and rotatably secured to said member and said releasable securing means comprises an arm carried by said cylindrical means and latches pivotally carried by said member for engaging said arm in said first and second positions.

3. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said means for releasing said securing means comprises a rod connected at one end to said latches and at the other end to a fixed point on said vehicle whereby raising of said blade through a predetermined angle will change the distance of said latches from said fixed point and cause said rod to rotate said latches to disengage said arm.

4. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 3 including spring means connected between said cylindrical means and said support, said spring means being stressed when said arm is engaged by said latches and imparting angular momentum to said blade upon release of said arm causing it to move through an angle greater than one-half of the total angular movement of said blade to effect reversal thereof.

5. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said support includes an upright member and said spring means comprises a tension spring connected between the upper end of said upright member and the outer end of said arm.

6. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said blade has a curved crosssectional configuration with the radius of curvature of one end being smaller than the radius of curvature of the other end and said one end leads said other end when one edge of said blade is in an operating position.

7. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 6 wherein said blade further includes a plate closing said one end and extending forwardly thereof, said blade being substantially parallel to a vertical plane defined by said normal axis.

8. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 6 wherein said pivotal means securing said blade to said member includes cylindrical means fixedly attached at one end of said blade and rotatably secured to said i and cause said rod to rotate said latches to disengage said arm.

10. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 9 including spring means connected between said cylindrical means and said support, said spring means being stressed when said arm is engaged by said.

latches and imparting angular momentum to said blade upon release of said arm causing it to move through an angle greater than one-half of the total angular movement of said blade to effect reversal thereof. 1 

1. A plow and means for attachment to a motor driven vehicle comprising an elongated blade having opposing edges extending lengthwise thereof, said plow blade being inclined in a horizontal plane relative to the front of said vehicle so that one end thereof is in advance of the other end, and means for securing said blade to said vehicle, said means comprising a member pivoted to said vehicle for angular movement about a horizontal axis transversely positioned relative to sad vehicle, pivotal means securing said blade to said member for rotation about an axis normal to said horizontal axis, spring-biased means carried by said member releasably securing said blade in a first operating position with one of said edges of the blade substantially parallel to and adjoining the ground surface and in a second operating position with the other of said edges adjoining the ground surface, means engaging said releasable securing means and operable upon raising said blade and pivoted member through a predetermined angle to release said securing means and spring means between said blade and said member to effect rotation of said blade when said releasable securing means is released so that the ends of said blade pass through a vertical longitudinal plane normal to said horizontal axis whereby lowering of said blade to contact the ground will move said blade into a reversed operating position and maintain the same in said reversed position.
 2. A plow and means for attachment to a motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal means securing said blade to said member includes cylindrical means fixedly attached at one end to said blade and rotatably secured to said member and said releasable securing means comprises an arm carried by said cylindrical means and latches pivotally carried by said member for engaging said arm in said first and second positions.
 3. A plow and meanS for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said means for releasing said securing means comprises a rod connected at one end to said latches and at the other end to a fixed point on said vehicle whereby raising of said blade through a predetermined angle will change the distance of said latches from said fixed point and cause said rod to rotate said latches to disengage said arm.
 4. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 3 including spring means connected between said cylindrical means and said support, said spring means being stressed when said arm is engaged by said latches and imparting angular momentum to said blade upon release of said arm causing it to move through an angle greater than one-half of the total angular movement of said blade to effect reversal thereof.
 5. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said support includes an upright member and said spring means comprises a tension spring connected between the upper end of said upright member and the outer end of said arm.
 6. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said blade has a curved cross-sectional configuration with the radius of curvature of one end being smaller than the radius of curvature of the other end and said one end leads said other end when one edge of said blade is in an operating position.
 7. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 6 wherein said blade further includes a plate closing said one end and extending forwardly thereof, said blade being substantially parallel to a vertical plane defined by said normal axis.
 8. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 6 wherein said pivotal means securing said blade to said member includes cylindrical means fixedly attached at one end of said blade and rotatably secured to said member and said releasable securing means comprises an arm carried by said cylindrical means and latches pivotally carried by said member for engaging said arm in said first and second positions.
 9. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 8 wherein said means for releasing said securing means comprises a rod connected at one end to said latches and at the other end to a fixed point on said vehicle whereby raising of said blade through a predetermined angle will change the distance of said latches from said fixed point and cause said rod to rotate said latches to disengage said arm.
 10. A plow and means for attachment to a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 9 including spring means connected between said cylindrical means and said support, said spring means being stressed when said arm is engaged by said latches and imparting angular momentum to said blade upon release of said arm causing it to move through an angle greater than one-half of the total angular movement of said blade to effect reversal thereof. 